On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Union media team released another heartwarming spotlight video, introducing Chester resident and club groundskeeper, Dwayne Briscoe.

If you haven’t already met Dwayne, you should get to know the man who has a passion for painting the lines at Talen Energy Stadium week in, week out.

Major League Soccer

LAFC Open Banc of California Stadium

Major League Soccer’s newest expansion side, Los Angeles Football Club, has officially opened the gates to its new stadium.

After opening their new training ground on the campus of the University of California State-Los Angeles, two weeks ago, LAFC officially opened their $350 million, 22,000 seat stadium with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, at the site of the old Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on Thursday.

Check out the stunning video of the new Banc of California Stadium, which is another beautiful American, soccer-specific stadium.

Report: Swansea City Co-Owners Looking to Buy D.C. United

According to a report by the Washington Post’s Soccer Insider, Steven Goff, two of the three co-owners of Premier League side Swansea City are currently weighing an option to join Jason Levien, CEO of D.C. United and co-owner of Swansea, as part of United’s new ownership group.

It was reported last week by Bloomberg that Levien and billionaire partner Patrick Soon-Shiong were considering buying out primary shareholder Erick Thohir for a staggering $500 million.

According to Goff, if Levien is successful in reaching an agreement with Soon-Shiong, there is a possibility that “two or three” partners at Swansea will also join the ownership group.

Goff also reports that if Soon-Shiong does not join, then up to “three to four” partners at the Welsh club could join Levien in the ownership of one of Major League Soccer’s most storied franchises.

D.C. is scheduled to open their breathtaking new stadium, Audi Field, on July 14. United’s new dig is a 20,000-seat venue, which is located in the district’s downtown area.

US Soccer

English FA Announce US Friendly

In our last News Roundup, which you can find here, it was reported that the English Football Association and United States Soccer Federation were finalizing an international friendly between the two countries, which is to be played in England.

On Wednesday, the English FA confirmed the reports, announcing international friendlies against both Switzerland and the United States, to be played later this year.

Interim USMNT manager Dave Sarachan’s team will play England at Wembley Stadium on November 15. It will be the first meeting between the Yanks and Three Lions since their last meeting in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Global

Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso Banned For Three Matches

Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso has been handed a three-match suspension by the English FA, for this dangerous-looking challenge on Southampton’s Shane Long at last weekend.

According to the FA, Alonso’s challenge on Long from behind was ruled to be “an act of violent conduct.” Mike Dean, the referee for Saturday’s match between the Saints and Blues, missed the incident and, as a result, took no action.

Below is a portion of the statement released by the FA on Thursday:

“Marcos Alonso will miss Chelsea’s next three matches after an Independent Regulatory Commission ruled he had committed an act of violent conduct against Southampton’s Shane Long. Alonso denied the charge and further submitted that if found proven the suspension would be excessive, however, this was rejected following Wednesday’s hearing.”

Alonso is now set to miss Chelsea’s next three matches, including Sunday’s FA Cup Semi-Final against Southampton at Wembley Stadium.

And now for the news that truly matters:

Klopp: You Can Train Naked!

Liverpool manager and rock-and-roll enthusiast Jurgen Klopp jokingly told his team they could train naked ahead of the Red’s Champions League Quarter-Final against Manchester City.

Klopp apparently informed his players that, regardless if they did train naked, all eyes would be on Liverpool’s star-man and signing of the century, Mohammed Salah.

Salah has been in incredible form for the Reds this season, scoring 40 goals across all competitions and helping Liverpool reach the Semi-Finals of the Champions League for the first time since their last appearance during the 2007/2008 season.

Slow news week or just another one of Mo’s news weeks? You decide.

Thanks for reading Friday’s News Roundup. Check back here, on Monday morning, for the latest happening in The Beautiful Game. Until then, Cheers.